Oil firms trim prices; transmission firm announces power disruptions

 General
Dec 062014
 
Oil firms trim prices; transmission firm announces power disruptions

MANILA—True to the market buzz toward the weekend, the oil companies were to implement fuel price cuts one stroke after midnight Saturday or 12:01 a.m. Sunday, December 7. Petron and Shell said in separate announcements they would roll back prices of gasoline by P2.50 per liter, diesel by P2.25 per liter, and kerosene by P2.25 per liter. Seaoil and PTT Philippines said they were implementing similar price cuts from 12:01 a.m. PTT Philippines does not carry kerosene products. These reflect price movements in the international oil market, where demand has been weakening since the oil boom in the U.S. earlier this year. Crude oil prices have been weakening from over $100 per barrel earlier this year to just below $70 per barrel as exporting countries failed to agree to cut output during a recent meeting. Industry observers in the Philippines, meanwhile, said the timing is also right for consumers wanting to fill up their vehicles in anticipation of higher demand after Typhoon Ruby passes through the country and possibly disrupts retail services in flood-prone areas. Meanwhile, the approach of Typhoon Ruby already affected several transmission facilities in the provinces of Quezon, Northern and Eastern Samar, Iloilo and Camarines Sur, as of 3 p.m. Saturday, the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines said in a press statement. There were outages in these areas, the scale of which depended on whether all or part of the distribution utilities networks are affected. So far, in Luzon, the affected facilities were the Pitogo-Mulanay 69-kV Read More …

Coast guard: 2,163 passengers stranded due to Ruby

 News
Dec 062014
 
Coast guard: 2,163 passengers stranded due to Ruby

Eastern Samar starts to feel Ruby’s rain, winds; evacuations continue . A satellite photo taken and released by EUMETSAT on Friday, December 5, shows Typhoon Ruby (Hagupit) closing in on Samar Island. Eastern Samar started to experience heavy rains and strong winds from Ruby Saturday morning, even as the government continued evacuation efforts for thousands of people. Many also sought shelter in churches, schools and makeshift facilities. AFP/EUMETSAT 2014 At least 2,163 passengers were stranded in various ports due to bad weather conditions brought by Typhoon Ruby (Hagupit), the Philippine Coast Guard said Saturday afternoon. The Coast Guard said that as of 4 p.m., 2,163 were stranded along with 80 vessels, 434 rolling cargos, four motor bancas, 97 vessels and 13 motor bancas taking shelter. Six trips were also canceled, it added. A breakdown of those stranded includes: Metro Manila and Central Luzon Manila: 340 passengers, 2 vessels, 2 canceled trips Palawan: Puerto Princesa: 4 vessels, 4 canceled trips Coron: 4 vessels (taking shelter) Cuyo: 2 vessels Brooke’s Point: 30 passengers, 5 vessels Southern Tagalog Batangas: 142 passengers, 157 rolling cargos Oriental Mindoro: 371 passengers, 156 rolling cargos Occidental Mindoro: 7 passengers, 3 rolling cargos Bicol Albay: 183 passengers, 19 vessels, 34 rolling cargos, 19 vessels (taking shelter) Sorsogon: 70 passengers, 6 rolling cargos Catanduanes: 18 passengers, 9 rolling cargos Masbate: 91 passengers, 13 vessels, 10 rolling cargos, 2 motor bancas Eastern Visayas Maasin: 265 passengers, 23 rolling cargos Tacloban: 1 vessel Western Visayas Bacolod: 248 passengers, 8 vessels, 21 Read More …

US Embassy offers planes, personnel as AFP continues preparations for Ruby

 News
Dec 062014
 
US Embassy offers planes, personnel as AFP continues preparations for Ruby

The US Embassy has offered the use of some American aircraft and personnel to help with Typhoon Ruby even as the Armed Forces of the Philippines continues to prepare for Typhoon Ruby. According to Maj. Emmanuel Garcia, commander of the 7th Civil Relations Group of the AFP Civil Relations Service, the embassy has offered the use of nine C-130 transport aircraft and three P-3C Orion surveillance planes for air assessment and monitoring. It has also offered “medical and relief workers and other suport if needed,” Garcia said, adding other foreign armed forces are also offering help. AFP continues to prepare for typhoon In the meantime, soldiers and police officers have been deployed to secure National Food Authority warehouses, Garcia said. Water sanitation teams are also on standby while additional troops have been sent to Department of Social Welfare and Development repacking centers to help prepare relief goods. Trucks have alreadt been stationed in major service headquarters, with 12 of 45 trucks assigned to Joint Task Force National Capital Region.  Soldiers from the AFP Central Command have also been conducting security patrols in Leyte and Samar with the 8th Infantry Division deploying 1,171 personnel for rescue and relief operations along with 638 reservists. Another 6,601 soldiers are on standby with 604 reservists. Troops have also been deployed in Bicol to deter looting and crime and more Southern Luzon Command troops are ready to deploy to Romblon, Mindoro, Marinduque, Masbate, and Catanduanes, Garcia said.  Ships at the ready Meanwhile, AFP Western Command Read More …

Typhoon Ruby could affect 26.8 million people, GDACS warns

 News
Dec 062014
 
Typhoon Ruby could affect 26.8 million people, GDACS warns

Sorsogon residents find shelter in a church. Residents of a coastal barangay in Sorsogon take refuge in a church ahead of Ruby which is expected to make landfall in Dolores, Eastern Samar on Saturday evening. Joseph Morong Typhoon Ruby (Hagupit) could affect 26.8 million people in the Philippines, according to Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System (GDACS). Among people living in coastal areas, 2.4 million are at risk of storm surges Ruby may generate, the GDACS added. The GDACS is an initiative of the United Nations and the European Commission in cooperation with disaster managers worldwide to disseminate information in times of calamity. The populous Southern Tagalog region could bear the brunt of the typhoon’s effects, with 8.2 million people who could be potentially affected by extreme winds. National Capital Region and Central Luzon follow, with 7.9 million and 6.1 million, respectively. Bicol Region and Eastern Visayas, which faces the Pacific Ocean and thus prone to adverse weather conditions, relatively have a lower population affected with 3.9 million and three million. As of 6 a.m. on Saturday, 10.8 million have already felt the cyclone winds brought about by Ruby, with maximum speeds reaching 204 kph, according to GDACS. GDACS also listed airports and major ports which could be affected, which includes the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and the Subic Bay International Airport. — Marisse Panaligan/JST, GMA News

AFP deployed to help prevent crime, looting in Typhoon Ruby's wake

 News
Dec 062014
 
AFP deployed to help prevent crime, looting in Typhoon Ruby's wake

Tacloban braces for Typhoon Ruby. Storm clouds gather over the horizon in Tacloban City on Friday, December 5, as Typhoon Ruby (Hagupit) nears Eastern Visayas. At least 34 areas are under storm signals early Friday, as Ruby intensified further and continued to move toward Eastern Visayas. Arlan Rsequito Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. has deployed military troops to areas that are under threat of typhoon Ruby to maintain peace and order, and prevent looting incidents. In a statement, AFP spokesperson Restituto Padilla Jr. said soldiers have been deployed to “critical” areas, including Tacloban City, to support the Philippine National Police “in maintaining peace and order and assisting government agencies in pre-emptive evacuations.” “General Catapang has directed the area commanders to augment the police which are securing urban centers. The soldiers will help our police counterparts in maintaining peace and order, and prevent looting incident,” said Padilla. “We advise the public not to be alarmed by the presence of military vehicles and personnel in their areas,” Padilla explained. “They are deployed to help in preparations for typhoon Ruby, particularly in helping people who need to be evacuated to safer places.” There were several looting incidents reported in Tacloban City in Leyte in the aftermath of super typhoon Yolanda last year. The streets of the city were in chaos when several residents began looting grocery stores and breaking into shops for food and other basic items they needed to survive. Looting in Tacloban City Read More …

CAAP: 6 airports closed due to Typhoon Ruby

 General
Dec 062014
 
CAAP: 6 airports closed due to Typhoon Ruby

Eastern Samar starts to feel Ruby’s rain, winds; evacuations continue . A satellite photo taken and released by EUMETSAT on Friday, December 5, shows Typhoon Ruby (Hagupit) closing in on Samar Island. Eastern Samar started to experience heavy rains and strong winds from Ruby Saturday morning, even as the government continued evacuation efforts for thousands of people. Many also sought shelter in churches, schools and makeshift facilities. AFP/EUMETSAT 2014 At least six domestic airports in Eastern Visayas and Bicol were closed Saturday due to bad weather conditions from Typhoon Ruby (Hagupit), as opposed to the previous four. Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines deputy director general Rodante Joya told radio dzBB’s Sam Nielsen the airports have been secured for Ruby’s wrath. Joya said the closed airports include: Calbayog Legaspi Catarman Naga Masbate Tacloban Joya said the airport fire trucks had been moved to a safe place while communication equipment was covered to protect them from rain. He said the CAAP will inspect the airports before allowing them to resume operations. Parts of Bicol and Eastern Visayas are under storm signals due to Ruby, which is expected to make landfall on Eastern Visayas before dawn Sunday. The Department of Transportation and Communications have also canceled flights to and from Masbate, Surigao and Catarman in Northern Samar earlier in the day. At least 29 areas have been placed under storm signals – including the areas where the closed airports are located – before noon Saturday as Ruby continues to move toward central Read More …

'Ruby' cancels 16 Cebu Pacific flights

 Economy
Dec 052014
 
'Ruby' cancels 16 Cebu Pacific flights

MANILA, Philippines – In light of Typhoon ‘Ruby,’ the following Cebu Pacific flights have been canceled, according to the Manila International Airport Authority: 5J 381, (MNL-CDO) 5J 382 (CDO-MNL) 5J 397 (MNL-CDO) 5J 398 (CDO-MNL) 5J 383 (MNL-CDO) 5J 384 (CDO-MNL) 5J 385 (MNL-CDO) 5J 386 (CDO-MNL) 5J 391 (MNL-CDO) 5J 392 (CDO-MNL) 5J 389 (MNL-CDO) 5J 390 (CDO-MNL) 5J 891 (MNL-Caticlan) 5J 892 (Caticlan-MNL) 5J 895 (MNL-Caticlan) 5J 898 (Caticlan-MNL)

Batuhan: The weather denial game

 General
Dec 052014
 
Batuhan: The weather denial game

IT feels strange, to the point of being surreal. Here we are, barely a year out of the most damaging storm ever to hit the Philippines. And again, we are staring at the prospect of another, just as equally devastating weather disturbance, trying to retrace the steps of the one that went before it a year ago. Strange, too, to hear the name that has been chosen for this incoming weather system. While we were accustomed to hearing meteorologists talk about the “hagupit ng bagyong Yolanda over our airwaves,” I am not sure “hagupit ng bagyong Hagupit” would have quite the same ring to it. Nevertheless, poetic rhyming or not, it promises to be just as destructive as the one that went before it. We’ve all heard of the expression “like watching a train wreck in slow motion.” Oneknows it is going to come, one can see it coming, but there is very little one can do about it. Except, to get out of the way, of course. Getting out of the way, it seems, is our only option these days. As people living in a land renowned for devastating natural phenomena of every kind, it is almost inescapable that we will be subject to these furies of nature every now and again. And nature being nature, it will not care where these furies pass. Whether it be through human habitation, or remote and far-flung locations. The only problem, it seems to me, is that we are now having to Read More …

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